Installation image fragments for operating and observing an installation
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2024718048
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-05-09
- Filing Date
- 2024-03-27
- Publication Date
- 2025-12-24
AI Technical Summary
In process engineering systems, operators face challenges in efficiently navigating and managing alarms across large systems, often requiring complete system layout changes to focus on specific parts, leading to loss of focus on the active system image, especially when dealing with thousands of potential alarm sources.
A method and control system that generate a first and second system image, where the second image is fragmented into parts (system image fragments) that can be selectively displayed alongside the first image without changing the main system view, allowing operators to focus on critical parts without losing context.
Enables operators to efficiently monitor and operate technical systems by allowing parallel focus on multiple critical system parts without changing the primary system image, improving alarm management and reducing the need for complete system layout changes.
Smart Images
Figure EP2024058330_14112024_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] PLANT ILLUSTRATION FRAGMENTS FOR OPERATING AND MONITORING A PLANT
[0002] The invention relates to a method for generating a first plant image and a second plant image. Furthermore, the invention relates to a control system comprising an engineering station server, an operator station server, and an operator station client, and to a technical plant. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of a control system for operating a technical plant.
[0003] For the operation and monitoring of process engineering plants, symbolic plant diagrams are created that abstractly represent the process engineering relationships - especially between the process objects. Plant diagrams consist of static symbols (e.g., lines, rectangles, etc.), dynamic symbols (e.g., depending on process values, lines with color changes, rectangles with fill levels, etc.), block symbols (for the dynamic visualization of process engineering process objects), complex controls (e.g., trend displays, message sequence displays, etc.), and containers to visualize content from independent and autonomous sources (e.g., webcams, plant diagrams of modular plant components (package units) and applications).
[0004] (e.g. controller optimizers, KPI calculations), etc.).
[0005] Even if a plant diagram is open, an operator must always monitor plant components other than those shown in the open plant diagram in order to be able to intervene if corresponding alarms are reported by the plant components - efficient alarm management is of central importance here.
[0006] The aim of efficient alarm management of process engineering
[0007] The goal of these systems is to enable operators to identify alarms and navigate to their source as quickly as possible. Since there can be thousands of alarm sources in a process plant, it is common practice to group alarms together (group alarms = summary alarms) and present them in a clear and concise manner.
[0008] In the current state of the art, navigating to a source is implemented through a so-called loop-in, which typically involves a change of the plant image. Even if an operator needs to focus on a specific part of the plant, the state-of-the-art alarm management requires them to change the plant image to evaluate the alarm, which temporarily causes them to lose focus on the actually active plant image.
[0009] Even if there are no alarms, the operator is often forced to routinely check parts of the plant other than those they were currently focusing on. This has previously involved completely changing the plant screen. Often, for checks, alarm loop-ins, etc., it is not the entire plant screen that is relevant, but only parts of it. For example, if a controller is being optimized in one plant screen, a fragment of another plant screen (e.g., a pressure measuring point) is often sufficient to observe the effects.
[0010] EP 4 092 502 A1 and EP 3 623 891 A1 disclose control systems that enable an operator to operate and monitor a technical system. The display of system images is designed to be partially customizable by the operator.
[0011] The invention is therefore based on the object of specifying a method and an associated control system for a technical system which enable more efficient operation and monitoring of the technical system. This object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1. In addition, the object is achieved by a control system for a technical system, in particular a process or production system, having the features of claim 7. Furthermore, the object is achieved by a technical system having the features of claim 11. In addition, the object is achieved by using a control system for operating a technical system according to claim 12. Advantageous further developments arise from the dependent claims.
[0012] The method according to the invention comprises the following method steps: a) generating a first plant image and a second plant image by means of a project planning tool of a control system, wherein the second plant image has a plurality of objects, b) defining a part of the objects of the second plant image as a plant image fragment, c) transmitting the first and the second plant image with the part of the objects of the second plant image defined as a plant image fragment to an operator station server, d) transmitting the first plant image with a graphic reference to the part of the objects of the second plant image defined as a plant image fragment to an operator station client for visual presentation to an operator of the control system e) visual presentation by the operator station server and the operator station client,whether one or more active messages, in particular alarm messages, are assigned to the part of the objects of the second plant image defined as the plant image fragment, f) In the event that the operator selects the graphic reference of the part of the objects of the second plant image defined as the plant image fragment, visual presentation of the part of the objects of the second plant image defined as the plant image fragment together with the first plant image, without the second plant image being visually presented to the operator.
[0013] In this context, a control system is understood to be a computer-aided, technical system that includes functionalities for displaying, operating, and managing the technical system. The control system can also include sensors for determining measured values as well as various actuators. Furthermore, the control system can include so-called process- or production-related components that serve to control the actuators or sensors. The control system can optionally also include additional processing units for more complex control systems and systems for data storage and processing.
[0014] An "operator station server" is understood here to be a server that centrally records data from an operating and monitoring system, as well as usually alarm and measured value archives from the control system for a technical plant, and makes them available to users. The operator station server usually establishes a communication connection to the automation systems of the technical plant and forwards data from the technical plant to so-called operator station clients, which are used to operate and monitor the operation of the individual functional elements of the technical plant.
[0015] The operator station server can have client functions to access the data (archives, messages, tags, variables) of other operator station servers. This allows images of the operation of the technical plant on the operator station server to be combined with variables from other operator station servers (server-to-server communication). The operator station server can be, but is not limited to, a SIMATIC PCS 7 Industrial Workstation Server from SIEMENS.
[0016] Within the scope of the method according to the invention, a first and a second plant image are initially created. For this purpose, a special configuration tool of the control system is used, which can be implemented on an engineering station server. A plant image represents the functional relationships between individual objects of a technical plant operated and monitored by the control system. The objects can be, for example, pipelines, tanks, motors, valves, actuators, sensors, burners or robots. The plant image generally comprises static and dynamically changeable symbols as well as containers in which, for example, camera images from independent and autonomous sources can be displayed.
[0017] It is assumed that at least the second system diagram contains a plurality of objects. Therefore, it is not assumed that a second system diagram trivially contains only a single object, such as a boiler.
[0018] A portion of the majority of the objects in the second system image is now defined as a system image fragment. To do this, the portion of the objects can be selected in the configuration tool and defined as the system image fragment.
[0019] The plant image fragment can be assigned a name which does not have to be related to the names of the individual objects, but can be freely chosen.
[0020] Both plant images as well as the previously defined plant image fragment are transferred from the configuration tool to the operator station server. The operator station server then transfers the first plant image to the operator station client, which graphically presents the first plant image to an operator. In doing so, the operator station server also transfers to the operator station client a graphic reference to the part of the plurality of objects of the second plant image defined as the plant image fragment. In other words, the operator receives a graphic reference to the plant image fragment, for example in the form of a symbol, a designation or the like. The reference can include the designation of the plant image fragment and / or an indication that it is a plant image fragment.The graphic reference can therefore be provided with a graphic indication, in particular a symbol, which is designed and intended to draw the operator's attention to the presence of at least one system image fragment.
[0021] The Operator Station Server and the Operator Station Client provide the operator with a visual indication of whether one or more active messages, in particular alarm messages, are assigned to the part of the objects of the second plant image defined as the plant image fragment. The reference to the plant image fragment can be assigned an alarm status which, for example, uses a corresponding color to intuitively indicate to the operator whether an active alarm is assigned to the part of the objects of the second plant image and which part has been defined as the plant image fragment. This allows the operator to immediately recognize whether the alarm originates from the plant image fragment before opening this plant image fragment. In addition, the alarm from the plant image fragment can specifically alert the operator to the fact that they should open the plant image fragment in order to observe the objects it contains.
[0022] When the operator selects the graphic reference, the plant image fragment is visually presented to him in addition to the first plant image. It is important that the plant image fragment is presented without the complete second plant image having to be presented for this purpose. The visual presentation of the plant image fragment can advantageously be such that the visually presented objects of the first plant image are not covered up. The method according to the invention enables the operator to focus easily and quickly on the plant image fragment without having to change the actual plant image. The operator can therefore observe several critical plant components in parallel without losing focus on his primary operation and observation.
[0023] The portion of the objects of the second plant image that is defined as the plant image fragment can comprise a plurality of objects. In other words, a group of individual objects can be combined into a plant image fragment. This can be advantageous if several objects belong together and cannot be meaningfully operated and monitored individually.
[0024] The invention is not restricted to defining a single plant image fragment. Rather, a plurality of plant image fragments can be defined within the second plant image. This plurality of plant image fragments can then also be opened in parallel by the operator in order to enable an overview of the individual plant image fragments. The operator station server and the operator station client thereby provide the operator with a graphic overview of the plant image fragments that can be customized. The operator can, for example, specify the location and size at which the plant image fragments are to be visually displayed. In addition to the regular (first) plant image, the operator can in principle also operate and observe the system via the plant image fragments.In multi-monitor operation or in plant image groups, the operator can efficiently compile overview images at runtime that include the most important aspects (previously defined as plant image fragments) of various plant images.
[0025] The plant image fragments can, but do not have to, refer to objects of a single plant image (the second). Rather, at least one plant image fragment can be assigned to one or more objects within the second plant image, and at least one plant image fragment can be assigned to one or more objects within a third plant image.
[0026] The above-stated object is also achieved by a control system for a technical plant, in particular a process or production plant, which has an engineering station server, an operator station server and an operator station client, wherein the engineering station server is designed to generate a first plant image and a second plant image by means of a project planning tool computer-implemented on the engineering station server, wherein the second plant image has a plurality of objects, and wherein the engineering station server is further designed to define a part of the objects of the second plant image as a plant image fragment, and wherein the engineering station server is further designed to transmit the first and the second plant image with the part of the objects of the second plant image defined as a plant image fragment to the operator station server,and wherein the operator station server is designed to transmit the first plant image with a graphical reference to the part of the objects of the second plant image defined as a plant image fragment to an operator station client for visual presentation to an operator of the control system, and wherein the operator station client is designed to effect a visual presentation of the part of the objects of the second plant image defined as a plant image fragment, without the second plant image being visually presented to the operator, in the event that the operator selects the graphical reference of the part of the objects of the second plant image defined as a plant image fragment.
[0027] The technical plant can be a plant from the process industry, such as a chemical, pharmaceutical, petrochemical plant, or a plant from the food and beverages industry. This also includes any plant from the production industry, plants in which, for example, cars or goods of all kinds are produced. Technical plants suitable for carrying out the method according to the invention can also come from the field of energy generation. Wind turbines, solar systems, or power plants for energy generation are also encompassed by the term "technical plant."
[0028] The engineering station server can be configured to define a plurality of plant image fragments within the second plant image. Alternatively or additionally, it can be configured to define a plurality of plant image fragments, at least one of which is defined within the second plant image and at least one of which is defined within a third plant image.
[0029] The operator station server and the operator station client can be configured to provide the operator with a graphical overview of the plant image fragments that can be customized by the operator. They can also be configured to visually indicate to the operator whether one or more active messages, in particular alarm messages, are assigned to the part of the objects of the second plant image defined as a plant image fragment.
[0030] The previously formulated problem is also solved by a technical system, in particular a manufacturing or process system, which has a control system as explained above and at least one system component which can be operated and monitored by the control system.
[0031] The above-stated object is also achieved by using a control system as previously explained for operating a technical plant, in particular a manufacturing or processing plant. The above-described properties, features, and advantages of this invention, as well as the manner in which they are achieved, will become clearer and more readily understandable in connection with the following description of exemplary embodiments, which are explained in more detail in conjunction with the drawings. They show:
[0032] FIG 1 shows a graphical user interface of a project planning tool;
[0033] FIG 2 shows a graphical interface of an operator station client according to a first aspect;
[0034] FIG 3 the graphical interface of the operator station client according to a second aspect;
[0035] FIG 4 shows the graphical interface of the Operator Station Client according to a third aspect; and
[0036] FIG 5 a control system in a schematic representation.
[0037] FIG. 1 shows a graphical interface 1 of a configuration tool for a control system. The configuration tool can, for example, be computer-implemented on an engineering station server (not shown here) of the control system. A plant diagram 2 is shown in the graphical interface 1. The plant diagram 2 comprises graphic symbol objects such as a tank truck 3, a tank 4 with fill level indicator 5 and a combustion engine 6, as well as a display 7 for representing a (temporal) progression of a measured value.
[0038] FIG 1 shows the generated second plant image 2. It is assumed that a first plant image (not shown) has also been created using the configuration tool. In the second plant image 2 shown, a first part of the objects, namely the display 7 for displaying the trend of the measured value, is defined as a first plant image fragment 8. This definition is illustrated in FIG 1 by a dashed border. This is a single object of the second plant image 2 that has been defined as the first plant image fragment 8. In addition, the designation "Trend: Temperature" has been assigned to the first plant image fragment 8 (cf. FIG 3 and FIG 4).
[0039] The burner 6 and the associated displays and components were defined as a second plant image fragment 9. This involves several objects or a group of objects of the second plant image 2, which were defined as the second plant image fragment 9. In addition, the designation "HeaterGroup" was assigned to the second plant image fragment 9 (cf. FIG. 3 and FIG. 4). The second plant image fragment 9 does not necessarily have to be assigned to objects of the second plant image 2. Rather, the assignment could also have been made to one or more objects of a third plant image, also not shown in FIG. 1.
[0040] The project planning tool 1 or the infrastructure on which the project planning tool 1 is implemented (e.g. the engineering station server) transmits the generated first and second plant images (and possibly further plant images) to an operator station server of the control system (see FIG 5). The operator station server transmits the first plant image with a graphic reference to the part of the objects of the second plant image 2 defined as a plant image fragment to an operator station client of the control system for visual presentation to an operator of the control system (see FIG 5).
[0041] FIG 2 shows a visual presentation 10 of the Operator Station Client to the operator. The largest part of the presentation 10 is the first plant image 11, which includes a plurality of symbol objects that represent part of a process plant. On the left side in FIG 2, a hierarchy 12 is shown, via which the operator can navigate to various plant images 2, 11. In the hierarchy 12, the operator can, for example, select the second plant image 2, which is labeled "Display_Heater2". A red plus symbol next to the name "Display_Heater" shows the operator that one or more plant image fragments 8, 9 are assigned to the second plant image 2.If the operator does not want to lose focus on the opened first plant image 11 and only wants to use the details from the plant image fragments 8, 9, he can display the plant image fragments 8, 9 in the hierarchy 12 by selecting the plus symbol, which is illustrated in FIG 3.
[0042] In FIG 3 it can be seen that the red plus symbol has changed into a red minus symbol after the operator has selected the red plus symbol. Below the designation of the second plant image 2 "Display_Heater2" the designations "Trend : Temperature" of the first plant image fragment 8 and "HeaterGroup" of the second plant image fragment 9 can be seen. It can also be seen that to the left of the designations for the plant image fragments 8, 9 there is a status display (in the form of squares) which indicates the presence of an alarm message or a warning message using a conventional color scheme (yellow, red).
[0043] By way of example, in FIG 3 the operator has first selected the first plant image fragment 8. The display 7 for showing the curve of the measured value is then shown at a suitable point within the first plant image without the second plant image 2 having to be opened as a whole. In FIG 4 the operator has also selected the second plant image fragment 9, which is why the combustor 6 with the associated objects is shown in the first plant image 11. Both the display 7 and the combustor 6 with the associated objects are designed as windows that can be moved by the operator and arranged individually by the operator. FIG 5 shows a schematic view of the control system 13 for operating and monitoring a technical plant designed as a process plant. The control system 13 comprises an operator station server 14, an engineering station server 15 and an operator station client 16.The operator station server 14, the engineering station server 15 and the operator station client 16 are connected to each other via a terminal bus 17 and optionally to other components of the control system 13, such as an archive server, which are not shown.
[0044] A user or operator can access the operator station server 14 for the purpose of operating and monitoring via the operator station client 16 using the terminal bus 17. Similarly, a project engineer can access the engineering station server 15 and a computer-implemented project planning tool 18 within the scope of project planning for the automation of the technical system. The terminal bus 17 can, for example, be configured as Industrial Ethernet, but is not limited to this.
[0045] The operator station server 14 has a device interface 19 connected to a plant bus 20. Via this device interface 19, the operator station server 14 is connected to an automation device 21 as well as to other components of the process plant, such as peripheral devices, and can communicate with them. The plant bus 20 can, for example, be configured as an Industrial Ethernet, but is not limited thereto.
[0046] A visualization service 22, a process image 23, a configuration memory 24 and an alarm service 25 are also implemented on the operator station server 14. The visualization service 22 integrated in the operator station server 14 initiates a transmission of visualization information to the operator station client 16. The operator station client 16 is designed to display a visualization, i.e. a graphical representation, in particular of plant images, for operating and monitoring the process plant. A sub-service of the visualization service 22 is a hierarchy service 26, which creates the hierarchy 12 shown in Figures 2 to 4 and transmits it to the operator station client 16. A further sub-service of the visualization service 22 is a plant image service 27, which transmits the plant images 2, 11 to the operator station client 16 for visual representation.
[0047] A snapshot of the (signal) states of the connected devices and / or applications is stored in the process image 23. The operator station server 14 takes the specifications for the structural design of the process image 23 from the configuration memory 24. The alarm service 25 of the control system 13 accesses the process image 23 and takes any alarm messages from it. These are in turn transmitted to the operator station client 16 in order to present the alarm messages to the operator visually (and if necessary acoustically) in the form of an alarm display (see FIG 3 or FIG 4) or a
[0048] In a project planning phase, a project engineer can generate the first plant diagram 2 and the second plant diagram 11 by using the project planning tool 18 (designated by reference numeral 1 in FIG. 1). In doing so, he defines at least one plant diagram fragment 8, 9. The created project planning is transferred to the configuration memory 24 of the operator station server 14 via a loading functionality 28 known per se.
[0049] Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail by the preferred embodiment, the invention is not limited by the disclosed examples and other variations can be derived therefrom by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.
Claims
Patent claims 1. Method, comprising: a) generating a first plant image (11) and a second plant image (1) by means of a project planning tool (1, 18) of a control system (13), wherein the second plant image (1) has a plurality of objects (3, 4, 5, 6, 7), b) defining a part of the objects (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) of the second plant image (1) as a plant image fragment (8, 9) in the project planning tool (1, 18), c) transmitting the first plant image (11) and the second plant image (1) with the part of the objects (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) of the second plant image (1) defined as a plant image fragment (8, 9) to an operator station server (14) of the control system (13), d) transmitting the first plant image (11) with a graphic reference to the part of the objects (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) of the second plant image (1) defined as a plant image fragment (8, 9) to an operator station client (16) of the control system (13) for visual presentation to an operator of the control system (13),e) Visual presentation by the Operator Station Server, (14) and the operator station client (16) whether one or more active messages, in particular alarm messages, are assigned to the part of the objects (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) of the second plant image (1) defined as the plant image fragment (8, 9), f) In the event that the operator selects the graphic reference of the part of the objects (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) of the second plant image (1) defined as the plant image fragment (8, 9), visual presentation of the part of the objects (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) of the second plant image (1) defined as the plant image fragment (8, 9) together with the first plant image (11), without the second plant image (1) being visually presented to the operator.
2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the part of the objects (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) of the second plant image (1) which is designated as the Plant image fragment (8, 9) is defined, comprises a plurality of objects (3, 4, 5, 6, 7).
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of plant image fragments (8, 9) are defined within the second plant image (1).
4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which a plurality of plant image fragments (8, 9) are defined, of which at least one is defined within the second plant image (1) and at least one within a third plant image.
5. Method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the operator station server (14) and the operator station client (16) provide a graphic overview of the system image fragments (8, 9) for the operator which can be customized by the operator.
6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the graphic reference is provided with a graphic indication, in particular a symbol, which is designed and intended to draw the operator's attention to the presence of at least one plant image fragment (8, 9).
7. Control system (13) for a technical plant, in particular a process or production plant, which has an engineering station server (15), an operator station server (14) and an operator station client (16), wherein the engineering station server (15) is designed to generate a first plant image (11) and a second plant image (1) by means of a project planning tool (1, 18) computer-implemented on the engineering station server (15). generate, wherein the second plant image (1) has a plurality of objects (3, 4, 5, 6, 7), and wherein the engineering station server (15) is further configured to define a part of the objects (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) of the second plant image (1) as a plant image fragment (8, 9), and wherein the engineering station server (15) is further configured to transmit the first plant image (11) and the second plant image (1) with the part of the objects (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) of the second plant image (1) defined as a plant image fragment (8, 9) to the operator station server (14), and wherein the operator station server (14) is configured to provide the first plant image (11) with a graphical reference to the part of the objects (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) of the second plant image defined as a plant image fragment (8, 9) (1) to the Operator Station Client (16) for visual presentation to an operator of the control system (13),and wherein the operator station server (14) and the operator station client (16) are designed to visually present to the operator whether one or more active messages, in particular alarm messages, are assigned to the part of the objects (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) of the second plant image (1) defined as the plant image fragment (8, 9), and wherein the operator station client (16) is designed, in the event that the operator selects the graphical reference of the part of the objects (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) of the second plant image (1) defined as the plant image fragment (8, 9), to effect a visual presentation of the part of the objects (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) of the second plant image (1) defined as the plant image fragment (8, 9) together with the first plant image (11), without the second plant image (1) being visually presented to the operator.
8. Control system (13) according to claim 7, wherein the engineering station server (15) is designed to have a plurality of Plant image fragments (8, 9) within the second plant image (1).
9. Control system (13) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the engineering station server (15) is designed to define a plurality of plant image fragments (8, 9), of which at least one is defined within the second plant image (1) and at least one within a third plant image.
10. Control system (13) according to one of claims 7 to 9, in which the operator station server (14) and the operator station client (16) are designed to provide a graphic overview of the system image fragments (8, 9) for the operator that can be customized by the operator.
11. Technical plant, in particular a manufacturing or processing plant, comprising a control system (13) according to one of claims 7 to 10 and at least one plant component which can be operated and monitored by the control system (13).
12. Use of a control system (13) according to one of claims 7 to 10 for operating a technical system according to claim 11.